The mountain dulcimer originates in rural Appalachia sometime in the early 19th century. Precise ancestry is unclear, but the German scheitholt seems to be the closest antecedent.

Traditional mountain dulcimers were built by individual craftsmen using local woods and improvised methods. The Tennessee Music Box (right) is a nice example.

Scheitholt

Tennessee Music Boxca. 1890

The craft evolved over time into a fine art. Since the mid-19th century, tear-drop and hourglass shapes have become the most common, but other configurations are also made. Factory-built mountain dulcimers are now widely available.

Appalachian Mountain Dulcimers

Contemporary Dulcimers

Contemporary dulcimers retain two
defining characteristics:

1. Diatonic Scale (like the white keys on a piano)

2. Three strings (or three string courses)

Even these are subject to variations, such as extra fret(s) or additional string(s).

Still, these two characteristics together preserve the essential heritage of an easily played instrument that anyone can learn.

Stick Dulcimers

In the 1980's stick dulcimers appeared, retaining the traditional limited frets and strings, but held and played guitar-style.